East Coast Wineries

My name is Carlo DeVito, and I am the author of East Coast Wineries: A Complete Guide from Maine to Virginia published by Rutgers University Press. This blog is dedicated to primarily east coast wines and wineries including Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia. It will also feature products and information from other regions.

Saturday, February 28, 2015

There will be a special wine tasting hosted by the NJ Meadowlands chapter and will take place at the Award winning wine school MAKE WINE WITH US located at 21 Currie Ave. Wallington, NJ (less than 2 miles from Giants Stadium).

March 26th Thursday 7:00pm- 9:00pm Hudson Valley Wines

The opportunity comes at the hands of Danny Klein, Regional Vice President, American Wine Society...thank you!

The Hudson Valley Legacy Even closer than the Finger Lakes, the Hudson Valley has a long, rich winemaking tradition. It is the true birthplace of American wine, vinifying since 1677 and home to the oldest continually operating winery and Vineyard in America (Brotherhood Winery and Caywood Vineyards). More recently the region that led the way in craft distilling in New York state and the east coast.

Hudson Valley is host to more than 40 wineries, more than a dozen cideries, and almost as many distilleries making it one of the most diverse craft beverage regions in the country.

Come have some fun with all of your AWS friends and learn about what new varietals this extremely close and growing wine region has to offer. I’m sure you’ll want to make plans to visit the region once the snow melts this spring or summer!

The HVWC will sponsor the tasting, and will offer a host of highly acclaimed wines, ciders, and craft beverages.

Carlo DeVito: Writer, Publisher & WinemakerCarlo is a lifelong publishing executive and the owner of the Award winning Hudson-Chatham Winery in Ghent, NY. He has written more than 15 books and publishes a highly-acclaimed wine blog. His books include biographies about Yogi Bera, Bill Parcells, Charles Dickens, as well as others on topics ranging from tropical fish, organized crime, Mark Twain and The Godfather.

Carlos newest book Mrs. Lee's Rose a Garden is due out this April. He has appeared on television and radio, and he has been profiled in the Wall Street Journal, USA Today and the Christian Science Monitor.

Special pricing: Members $10 Guests $20

Please RSVP quick because the tasting is open to only the first 50 people and will more than likely fill up fast. Do not miss out… you will taste the best Reserve Baco Noir in the United States. Accept our invitation by contacting Angel Martinez at wineclub201@gmail.com

As popularity continues to climb in the Finger Lakes wine region, one company has been paving the way for others for the past quarter century. In 2015, Fox Run Vineyards will be celebrating their 25th anniversary with a variety of events throughout the year.

Vines were first planted on the property in 1984. The Civil War-era dairy barn was converted into a tasting room and winemaking facility in 1989. The tasting room opened to the public in 1990. When Scott Osborn first purchased the property with his original partner, Andy Hale, there were only 14 wineries on Seneca Lake and a total of 36 in the Finger Lakes.

“Fox Run Vineyards is a dream come true. The international recognition we have received thus far is a testament to the hard work our staff puts in daily. From welcoming every visitor through our doors, the expansion into new markets, to making extraordinary award-winning wines that a customer buys and shares with their friends,” says Scott Osborn. “We will celebrate the past 25 years and build for the next generation to continue the legacy of Fox Run Vineyards."

One has to hand it to Scott Osborn. He took a small little winery and built it into a regional powerhouse with terrific distribution. And he has done it while making quality wins. He has been one of the people at the forefront of the quality wine movement in the Finger Lakes and New York wine. I have tremendous respect for Scott Osborn, and there is no question why he is among the first to be polled when any important question arises in New York state wine.

Scott has also ha a secret weapon in winemaker Peter Bell. He is the winemaker other winemaker go to for advice, suggestions, etc. There is a whole generation of young Finger Lakes winemakers who are absolute fans, and whom he has either advised or groomed. h, and by the way, he's mad some terrific, award winning and highly-rated wines along the way.

Several major events in the Fox Run calendar this year include

The Food & Wine Experience returns in 2015 beginning in June. Guests enjoy an educational and culinary showcase offering a personal experience starting with a walking tour followed by a light lunch served in our historic barrel room. A selection of local cheeses, charcuterie, greens and fresh baked bread accompanies a flight of six wines. The cost is $40 per person and includes a keepsake glass. Reservations are required and can be made by visiting the website, www.foxrunvineyards.com.

The Burning of The Canes is a new event which will take place on Saturday, March 14th from 12-4 pm. Each winter after harvest, grape vines are pruned to ensure a good crop of grapes the following season. From the old tradition in winemaking regions of France, the Burning of the Canes will celebrate the previous year's work and prepare for the upcoming season by hosting an outdoor feast and burning the cuttings (canes). The day will include food and wine, bonfires and live music. More information is available on the website.

The 23rd Annual Glorious Garlic Festival will be held on August 1-2, 2015. Feast on food flavored with fresh garlic, enjoy festival vendors including regional garlic farmers, pick up a tip from local Finger Lakes chefs’ garlic cooking demonstrations. Soak up some sunshine and enjoy the views of Seneca Lake while listening to great musical entertainment and sipping on Fox Run wine. Free admission and parking. The weekend starts off on July 30th with the Thursday night Garlic Festival concert featuring The Town Pants.

Returning this year only is the Glorious Garlic Dinner to be held on Saturday night. A gorgeous view of Seneca Lake will accompany a 5-course dinner filled with the best selections of Finger Lakes sourced ingredients infused with garlic and paired with Fox Run wines. This tented event will be held at the top of the vineyards, offering a sunset view and moon lit lake accompanied by music.

I've included a small smattering of he articles I've written about Fox Run wines over the last years.

Again, congrats to Scott, Peter, and the whole crew at Fox Run Vineyards! And of course, we wish them another 25 years and beyond!

Friday, February 27, 2015

I have been drinking wines from Haight-Brown since I first discovered them back in the late 1980s or early 1990s. More than two decades ago, Sherman Haight Jr. planted Chardonnay and Riesling on the slopes of the Litchfield Hills, near the historic town of Litchfield. In 1978, the State Legislature passed a Farm Winery Act and Haight Vineyard became Connecticut’s first established winery.The Haight-Brown Vineyard and Winery is situated on ten pastoral acres, and is a classic New England farm winery.

Today, the tradition at Haight continues under new ownership. Courtney Brown & Amy Senew purchased Haight Vineyard from its founder, Sherman Haight Jr, in March, 2007. They intend to maintain the family run winery appeal while at the same providing some much needed love and care to the vineyards and winery.

The other night I was going through my wine cellar, re-arranging bottles, and I came across this wine. I had forgotten I had it. At my age I forget more of the wines in my cellar than remember them. I paired it with a roasted chicken, with creamed spinach and garlic bread.

It was the perfect compliment.

Railway White, a proprietary blend, from what I could discern, is a blend of whites, dominated by Seyval Blanc, blended with other grapes. My guess might be un-oaked Chardonnay or even a touch of Riesling? Or maybe it's Vignoles? or Vidal Blanc? Anyway... This stainless steel white wine had an overwhelming nose of green apple and tropical fruits. Very nice minerality. And very nice acidity, which gave the over wine real integrity. A beautiful dry table white. Not too much pucker at the end, but just enough to let you know it was there. And the fruit lasted a nice, long time. A lovely, lovely, well balanced, well crafted wine.

Pages

About Me

Carlo DeVito is a long time wine lover, and author of books and magazine articles. He is the author of Wineries of the East Coast. He has traveled to wine regions in California, Canada, up and down the east coast, France, Spain and Chile. He has been a published executive for more than 20 years. He shepherded the wine book program of Wine Spectator as well as worked with Kevin Zraly, Oz Clarke, Matt Kramer, Tom Stevenson, Evan Dawson, Greg Moore, Howard Goldberg, and many other wine writers. He has also published Salvatore Calabrese, Jim Meehan, Clay Risen, and Paul Knorr.
Mr. DeVito is the inventor of the mini-kit which has sold more than 100,000,000 copies world wide. He has also publisher such writers as Stephen Hawking, E. O Wilson, Philip Caputo, Gilbert King, James McPherson, John and Mary Gribbin, Thomas Hoving, David Margolick, Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr., John Edgar Wideman, Stanley Crouch, Dan Rather, Dee Brown, Susie Bright, and Eleanor Clift.
He is also the owner of Hudson-Chatham Winery, co-founder of the Hudson Berkshire Beverage Trail, and president of the Hudson Valley Wine Country.
https://carlodevito.wordpress.com/